Pretend its your first day in WDW

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

We are arriving on a Saturday in May, and checking into POR around 12:30pm. We have gone back and forth a million and one times about how to spend our first day and we have decided that unless we aren't feeling up for it, we will head to MK for a while, at least to view spectro and wishes- however we are unsure what to do dining-wise and would love any advice from those who have been there done that.

Should we....

1. Relax at the resort for a while, take a bus to MK, then monorail to Poly for a 5:05pm ADR at Ohana, then return to MK for spectro and wishes (meaning little to no time for attractions- but at least we get to try out Ohana)

2. There is plenty of time throughout the week to relax at the resort- get to MK ASAP, eat a late lunch at Crystal Palace and take it all in (allowing maximum park time, though we would then cancel our 8:05am ADR at CP for our full MK day later in the week)

3. Relax a tiny bit at the resort- eat some lunch at POR, then head to MK, have late dinner at The Plaza (still allows for park time)

Many people have suggested we swim on our first day, then head over to MK for the parade/fireworks- however- swimming will tire out our kids much faster than them hanging out in their strollers!

 

[irongirlof12]

CP is really quite noisy: the last time we went it was full of fractious kids and anxious parents, i wouldn't recommend it for the 1st evening. i love it but..it's very noisy in there. The plaza would be quieter.

The kids would love to stay in the pool and we had a job dragging ours away to go and eat! O'hana is also a full on dinner by all accounts and the trip there and back could be exhusting.

you don't say how old your young 'uns are?

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

We have an almost 2yo and a 4yo-

the other reason I am slightly against pool time is the following day we have scheduled the whole afternoon as resort/swim and DTD day!

 

[jkstewart1800]

to answer your question i would have to know what you are doing the next day... and if the MK is a green yellow or red for your arrival day... (i guess I could look that up myself).

Your kids are ages 2 and 4? Do they still nap? Won't they want to nap after lunch?

What is their bedtime? It is not good to be out late with little ones if they have an early morning the next day.

Ohana is fun, but a long meal.... they might not sit through it.

Do your kids sleep in? My little ones never slept in, even if they stayed up late. That is something to consider if don't want them to completely melt the next day at 4pm....

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

We are going May 22nd-

The 4 yo no longer naps
the almost 2 yr old will thankfully nap in her stroller

Bedtime- 4 yo normally is in bed by 9:30pm, almost 2 yo by 9pm- they may just fall asleep in their strollers which will make catching a bus back to POR a bit difficult....

Next day- we are going to DHS for a few hours, whenever we wake up. Its SWW and DHS will be packed so we do not want to stay too long (just long enough that DS can see the decorations, parade, TSM, Playhouse disney- we will have GAD Fastpasses thank goodness) After spending half day at DHS we will go back to POR for a long afternoon, and then DTD for dinner if up for it.

The next day we are going to MK and we need to make it an early night (hoping to leave park by 7pm) b/c the following morning we have a breakfast reservation for Donald's Safari Breakfast which is why we have to do fireworks the first night

For those that said "other" I would LOVE to hear your suggestions!!!

 

[Hootch]

third option. The Plaza is a nice little place where you can take a break but not miss too much time in the park.

 

[jkstewart1800]

Children do best by sticking as close as possible to their 'normal' routine. Each child handles WDW differently... but everybody can and does get overwhelmed.

I would say take it easy the first day. Eat lunch at POR, let big brother play in the pool and explore the hotel while little brother naps - then head out for dinner.

Although swiming does wear out kids pretty fast, it is usually the ONE thing they want to do when they get to their hotel. And if they get tired put them to bed early so that they will be rested for the next big day.

Even a half day at a park is alot for a 2 and 4 year old.

Don't forget to take transporation time in mind. Allow an hour from start to finish going anywhere.

I just check on your dates... you will be going during Memorial Day weekend week ( sounds weird I know) but things are going to be more crowded than normal. It is recomended that you use EMH to your advantage in the morning (when it is cooler too).

Have you made your ADR's? Do you have a ressie for Ohana yet? You leave pretty soon..... you may have to work around what ressie you are able to get...

 

[DISNEY1975]

# 3

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Why not check in at the resort - relax a bit then head over to DTD - there are so many great restaurants there, plus then you can have an early evening and be rested and ready for your first full day at WDW

 

[Tinkerbell3014]

I would take the afternoon and relax and swim/nap. Then, I would head over to MK. I chose other because I would not plan on where to eat that day. I would just eat when (and where) we were hungry instead. Travel days can be very tiring on little ones as well as the parents. Have a magical trip!

p.s. Donald's Safari Breakfast at AK is one of our favorites!

 

[Mrs.Prince]

I picked Ohana.

Love the Polynesian.

 

[Pugmalion1]

1. Relax at the resort for a while, take a bus to MK, then monorail to Poly for a 5:05pm ADR at Ohana, then return to MK for spectro and wishes (meaning little to no time for attractions- but at least we get to try out Ohana). Sure, why not. If it's someplace you'd like to eat, then this is probably the choice I'd make in your shoes.

2. There is plenty of time throughout the week to relax at the resort- get to MK ASAP, eat a late lunch at Crystal Palace and take it all in (allowing maximum park time, though we would then cancel our 8:05am ADR at CP for our full MK day later in the week) We don't have kids and we both hate Pooh. We avoid that place like the plague. I don't even like walking past the front doors, since it's always so crowded on the sidewalk. Anyway, I'd say go ahead and keep your early ADR later in the week. As long as there aren't early extra magic hours for that day, you'll actually get into the park before anyone else, which is cool because you get to see everything virtually empty. Good photo opportunities!

3. Relax a tiny bit at the resort- eat some lunch at POR, then head to MK, have late dinner at The Plaza (still allows for park time) Nah. The Plaza isn't very impressive. If anything, I'd suggest combining this with the first option.

 

[jdisnut]

I like taking the first day to relax. Traveling is strenuous and exhausting. The idea of jumping off a plane and directly into parks somehow seems stressful. I would have dinner at 'Ohana and then head to the Magic Kingdom for the parade and fireworks.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

thanks everyone!!!

 

[JoePa4Ever]

Everyone is different & has different touring styles that work for them. We have been the past 3 years with our son who was 2, 3 & 4 yrs old respectively. Each year on our arrival day we have headed directly to a park after checking in and have set foot in the park around noon. We are able to enjoy some park attractions before our dinner adr which we usually have around 4-5 pm. Afterwards we may be able to do a few other attractions before heading back to our resort by 7:00.

I would choose option 2 because I wouldn't be able to arrive in WDW & relax at the resort - I would have some major ants in my pants to get to a park - but I would not want to give up CP breakfast for CP lunch. I would do cs lunch at MK and then dinner at Ohana or The Plaza.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

JoePa- I LOVE you! LOL- I have a feeling that is EXACTLY how we, and my 4yo will feel- I cant see myself just sitting at the resort while MK is so so close.........

Maybe we save fireworks for the full day we are in MK-

Arrive, check in, off to MK for lunch, hang out till our 5:05 ADR at Ohana then back to MK if kids up for it, or back to POR!

 

[JoePa4Ever]

JoePa- I LOVE you! LOL- I have a feeling that is EXACTLY how we, and my 4yo will feel- I cant see myself just sitting at the resort while MK is so so close.........

Maybe we save fireworks for the full day we are in MK-

Arrive, check in, off to MK for lunch, hang out till our 5:05 ADR at Ohana then back to MK if kids up for it, or back to POR!

Sounds like my kind of plan

 

[Pixiedust34]

I voted other because I'd keep it open-ended to keep the options open depending upon how well the kids did with the travel. There are a lot of good counter service places you could do for dinner on arrival night. If you aren't tied into an ADR, you can decide on the spot if you'd be better off relaxing/unpacking at the resort or heading to the MK.

 

[jngwright]

I voted for #3. It seems like it would be less go go go for the kids on arrival day. I would keep the CP for the early am later in the week, just for the puffed french toast and early park entry

Have a great trip-and I wouldn't worry about "too much swimming" I don't think there is such a thing with kids

 

[ftwildernessrick]

It has been some years since we had kids that small, but I would opt for an afternoon nap or rest & explore after driving & going through check-in (with lunch at POR). Then go to MK & do Crystal Palace or Ohana's for dinner (Poly is just a short monorail ride away).

As you are probably aware, it can get a tad warm in the afternoon and the lines will be longer, which makes everyone a little more cross, no matter what age you are after a long drive & check in.

Hit rides like Mickey's Philharmonic, It's a Small World, Pirates, etc. that are air conditioned & faster moving wait lines, before you eat dinner, then come back, hit a few more rides & enjoy the fireworks.

If you have it in your budget to do it, I would highly recommend the Fireworks Desert Party at MK. The deserts are great as well as the view (with less crowding)